"Deya..."
My heart froze, this voice sounds familiar. I turned my head and to meet the voice. What is he doing here?
"Hey..." I greet with a nervous low voice. He smiled at me. My heart sank recalling what I had done to him.
"I saw you bypassing, and I thought let me greet you up close" He mumbles the words out and place his hands in his side pockets.
I stand up feebly. "Uh, Uhm. Thanks. What are you doing here? aren't you supposed to be at UL?" I enquire. This meet up startles me. I look aside and meet Musa's intense on the ground. He is quiet but his silence is louder than bombs.
Slowly, I feel my chest tightening up followed by a piercing pain. Tears well up in my eyes. I don't know what to do.
Hands reach out to me and I look up to realise that a tear had rolled down on my cheek and that hands have reached out to me from Musa and Cavin. Their kind gestures do not ease my nervous state but worsen. I feel stupid and I want to run, just like in the movies. The girl runs away when she feels overwhelmed, but this is reality.
I feel Musa's arm hold me close to him. I don't know if it's a comforting embrace or he is claiming me as his territory because I saw from his gaze he could read the room's atmosphere. Cavin's hand backed away and went back to his pocket.
"Oh well, attending a friend's party. I had thought of asking you to join me, but I can see that won't happen" He answers my question with an arrogant face.
I open my mouth but I could not say those words as Musa spoke before me.
"Why is that?" He asks just to provoke him. His stare is burning with disdain.
"If you don't mind that your girl hangs with her ex. Humour me" He gazes in his eyes daringly.
He sneers. "I trust Deya" He tightened his grip on my arm. "When is it taking place and time?" He glances with a cold danger.
"Uhm...I will have to check time and transport, and alone in a strange place," I nervously chuckle trying to cut through the ice. I randomly said things to ease the tension.
"You will be with me, I will keep you safe" Cavin dares Musa.
"I will drive you" His face still maintain his fierce expression.
"Tomorrow at 06:00 at the dot, Lira boutique lounge " His lips tear into a grin. "See you tomorrow Dee" He turns and take a gently proud walk to the car that is parked next to the geo lab.
Musa gaze at him probably cursing at him on the inside. His facial expression could not hide the vexation that he was having. His lips were rocked in a lopsided pout. Damn! He is fuming. I try to nudge his shoulder with my head and catch his attention. He is absorbed in this predicament. He turns his head and glances at me. Surprisingly the anger in his eyes dissipates as he gazes at me and turns into a loving gaze. He caresses my face with his hand.
"Do you want to attend the party?" His voice is soft and tender. My heart jolted at the swing of his moods. Dude, are you suffering from bipolar or multiple personality disorder? I gaze into his eyes, he is hurt but camouflage it.
"I just want to clear things out, I will invite a friend if you don't trust me" I try to assure him.
"There's no need. I trust you" His words pierce into my heart, they hold an ambivalent meaning. His words and the aura he is emitting does not correspond. But let actions be the judge. I let myself believe his words trusting that he means what he says.
*
I see his car parked outside our entrance gate. As I head for the car, the eyes gawk at me and sneer at me. Ever since it was confirmed that Lala has a baby with Musa, everyone despises me in this residence. I am an impediment to progress to them.
I open the passenger door and settle myself.
"Nice dress" That's his greeting. I sigh and shake my head.
"I can stay if you feel uncomfortable with it" I try to ease his worry.
"No need" His gaze is fixated on the road.
Dear Lord, Musa is oozing with jealousy right now.
"So where's this place?" I ask trying to make conversation because the silence in the car is piercing, I don't know what he is thinking of.
"Next to Nandoni Dam. Uhm...I got you a friend" His head points at the back.
"Hey, sister Deya or is it too early" She scratches her bald head. "I am Louisiana" She tears a generous smile. She's short by height, slim body, coffee brown skin tone, small face with small eyes and lips. Wow! Everything about her feature seems to be small.
I am baffled as to why she's here? Who is she? A friend? I thought he said he TRUSTED me, but I guess I was too gullible, wasn't I?
"Hi.." I try to keep my lips smiling as much as I can. I watch her go back to her phone. I turn my head and glared at him as he drives the car with a complacent attitude.
"She was bored and I thought this could be a way to get her out of the house safely and maybe meet another sibling of mine" He dares not to look my way as he veer the car around the roundabout.
"Oh...okay. What a great idea, but isn't she underage?" I hiss the words through my teeth trying to sound enthusiastic as possible.
"Oh no, I am your age. 18 years, old babes" I could hear her voice close to my ear.
"Lou, please relax, you give me nerves" He reprimands her with a stern voice. He looks agitated.
"I think this party gives you nerves" She scoffs and lays back on her seat.
He creases his forehead. I glare at him with that look I am disappointed in you. He shifts his gaze. I glance at him as he drives he looks like a jealous lover on a mission, a mission to ensure the ex does not get a second to attempt a sly move on his lover. Aww! sweet but I have to clear this out. I don't want a jealous lover.
"What's Your favourite colour," She asks randomly with her presence behind my seat. She can't sit still can she?
" That's lame, try how long have we been dating?" He infers a suggestion.
"I know that, almost a month or a month. I know how you fell in love, she's related to Shudu. Dang! Are you dating your cousin brother? That is something....least expected by our parents, but I know you are one undercover bad boy " She winks at Musa with a playful smirk on her face. He frowns.
"What the hell! I am a good guy, isn't it love?" He stares at me with pleading eyes.
"Sometimes" I glance away and gaze at the road through the window.
"Oh," His voice stifled. I could sense the disappointment. He expected me to back him up, but I was being honest. Maybe I should elaborate on my answer.
"I meant in all ways like you can be a baaaad boy..." I glance at him with the rip of my eyes. His lips contort into a thin smile. He gets it.
"Argh! No flirting in front of a kid okay" She playfully reprimands us and continues fiddling with her phone. We both chuckled at her comment. This feels so much better.
He hugs me tightly, reluctant to let me go.
"Baby I am only a call away" His lips capture my lips passionately and allow me to be captured.
"I am now disgusted" She starts walking on the pavement.
"See you sooner than you think" I blow him a kiss and walk faster to catch up with Lou. We walk side by side on the pavement.
"New love iya difha ne?" She beams
"Swinene" I let myself smile sheepishly
"You should teach me Tsonga and I will teach you Venda" Her small face is beaming. She is happy and carefree, what a soul?
"Yeah...I agree" I can't help but feel at ease. She is such a calm soul.
"Give me your contact, we can talk as friends, sisters. I don't have friends, you could be my first" She glare at me with her sparkling eyes. My heart can't help but melt. She's like her brother. She passes over her phone to me. I accept it and punch in my numbers.
"Hey, ladies" Cavin stands elegant in front of us.
*Iya difha ne- Venda language that translates as something being of good feeling to one or deliciousness of something on your taste buds.
*Swinene- Tsonga language that translates to a lot or much of something which could be a feeling or food or people or objects.